3 dead in Cameron Parish helicopter crash

Three people died in a helicopter crash Friday in a remote area of southwestern Louisiana's Cameron Parish.

Sheriff Ron Johnson said the crash was reported at 11:45 a.m. Friday. A pilot and two passengers were aboard the helicopter and all three died.

The helicopter was owned by Era Helicopters LLC, which has headquarters in Lake Charles. Company spokesman Tim O'Leary said the helicopter was an S-76A++ model. Company literature describes it as a 12-passenger, twin-engine aircraft.

O'Leary declined to give details, including the takeoff point or destination, because the crash is under investigation.

Johnson said federal authorities were at the crash site Friday afternoon.

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